Syracuse University is joining forces with the nationally recognized Women Leaders in Sports to launch a unique partnership aimed at expanding knowledge and enhancing the professional acumen and management skills of sport administrators and managers. The new partnership between the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics and Women Leaders in Sports comes at a time when more women are participating in sports than ever before and Syracuse University is bringing to life its commitment to promoting sports in all areas of the University, including academic studies, experiential learning, club sports and intercollegiate athletics.

“Falk College is creating exceptional experiential learning opportunities for future sports professionals,” says Falk College Dean Jeremy S. Jordan. “The importance of women in sports is growing exponentially as they lead traditional men’s and women’s teams, engage larger audiences, attract new sponsors, and receive more media attention than ever before. This partnership integrates our students and faculty in the outstanding work of Women Leaders in Sports and guides us as we develop programs and curricula to meet the needs of this dynamic field.”

Jordan also noted that the recently concluded Summer Olympics generated tremendous enthusiasm and support for women in a variety of sports. It was the fourth Summer Olympics in which U.S. female athletes won more medals than their male counterparts. The Orange Spirit was evident in Paris, from former student-athletes competing in a variety of sports, to faculty and students participating in academic opportunities, to those working behind the scenes – many of whom provided media coverage for female-dominated and other events.

The novel partnership was formed after Syracuse University’s Women in Leadership (WiL) initiative hosted Women Leaders in Sports Executive Director Patti Phillips on campus last March for a series of meetings and presentations. The collaboration is designed to create mentoring, learning, scholarship, internship and membership opportunities for Falk students, provide access to professional memberships for Falk faculty and support faculty participation in major events such as the Women Leaders in Sports National Convention. The joint agreement appoints Phillips as a special advisor to Jordan and secures her services as executive in residence at Falk. The partnership also provides for a sharing of relevant university research and for the joint creation of a Women Leaders in Sports Fellowship.

Women Leaders in Sports is a 45-year-old organization dedicated to increasing women’s influence and transforming leadership roles in sports. Phillips points out that this new partnership makes a lot of strategic sense given the synergies between her organization and Falk College.

“We foster the potential of women to positively impact the sport by offering world-class leadership development, career training and networking throughout the year,” Phillips says. “Our nearly 6,000 members share Falk College’s core mission to master all facets of the sport, whether it’s business administration and human performance or the use of technology and marketing. Our members gain insights that can make them even more effective administrators and leaders.”

According to Women Leaders in Sports, nearly half of the women who participate in one of the organization’s leadership experiences advance in their careers within a year. The organization hosted 16 national events in 2023. In addition to training and networking, the group also offers an exclusive online career platform, recognizes members’ achievements with awards and media recognition, and engages, educates and challenges industry leaders to make more diverse and equitable hiring decisions.

Today’s announcement comes just four months after Syracuse University announced it would transform Falk College into a first-of-its-kind College of Sport. The reimagined David B. Falk College of Sport will be the first stand-alone college on an R1 campus focused exclusively on sport-related disciplines, making the university one of the premier academic institutions preparing students to drive and lead innovation in sport-related fields and industries. The transformation follows two decades of recognized excellence in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science and nutrition, as well as innovative interdisciplinary majors such as esports. Falk College’s excellence, coupled with the strong growth of sport in the U.S. and around the world, has created unprecedented demand for talented practitioners and professionals.

About the newly designed David B. Falk College of Sport

The reimagined Falk College of Sport will offer academic programs in sport management, sport analytics, exercise science, nutrition and—in conjunction with the Newhouse School of Public Communications—e-sports. It will focus on four areas of academic excellence: sport business, human performance, sport technology and innovation, and community sport and wellness. The college will also launch a new research institute focused on sport and innovation, which will use an interdisciplinary, cross-campus approach to advance innovation in sport and health and integrate expertise in business, digital media and technology, and other academic focus areas.

About Women Leaders in Sports

Founded in 1979, Women Leaders in Sports is the only nationally recognized professional membership organization dedicated to promoting, connecting, supporting and empowering women leaders in sports. Women Leaders provides career and leadership training, access to a powerful network and the resources to support women at every stage of their careers. Learn more about the organization on their website and follow Women Leaders on ÞjórsárdalurInstagram, LinkedIn and TikTok @_WomenLeaders.

WiL of Syracuse University

The Women in Leadership initiative establishes Syracuse University as a leader in advancing female leadership and supports the professional development of women on campus through education, awareness, and mentoring. Founded in 2018, WiL aims to promote the personal and collective growth of women on campus. WiL offers a comprehensive professional development program with opportunities tailored to the needs of faculty and staff. Participants benefit from the real-life experiences and honest advice of panel discussions and guest speakers.